David Parradang, head of the Nigeria
Immigration Service, has been
suspended by President Muhammadu
Buhari effective Friday.
The deputy comptroller general, Martin
Abeshi, will take over while Mr.
Parradang is on suspension, according
to the News Agency of Nigeria and
Premium Times.
While no immediate reason was cited,
the suspension comes just two days
after Vanguard reported that President
Buhari has ordered an investigation
into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The investigation concerns the issuance
of a Nigerian visa to Ahmad al-Assir, a
notorious cleric supporting Islamic
State or ISIS. Al-Assir was arrested
last Saturday at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri
International Airport, where he was
attempting to leave for Nigeria via
Cairo. He was in possession of a fake
Palestinian passport and a legitimate
Nigerian visa.
The anonymous Ministry of Foreign
Affairs official who told Vanguard of
the probe mentioned, “The reported
arrest of the wanted terrorist is a huge
embarrassment to Nigeria and the
president has directed that the matter
should be investigated.”
The official also said that Nigerian
embassies are supposed to keep track
of wanted persons in the country they
service. “We are amazed that such a
high profile terrorist would evade our
radar. This is a major breach that
cannot be allowed to go without
investigation.”
The official furthermore mentioned the
additional concern raised by the fact
that Boko Haram pledged allegiance to
ISIS in March of this year.
Al-Assir had been wanted since 2013
when his followers fought a two-day gun
battle with Lebanese soldiers, killing 18
of them. He was reportedly recruiting
members for ISIS to join the ongoing
fighing in Syria.
Immigration Service, has been
suspended by President Muhammadu
Buhari effective Friday.
The deputy comptroller general, Martin
Abeshi, will take over while Mr.
Parradang is on suspension, according
to the News Agency of Nigeria and
Premium Times.
While no immediate reason was cited,
the suspension comes just two days
after Vanguard reported that President
Buhari has ordered an investigation
into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The investigation concerns the issuance
of a Nigerian visa to Ahmad al-Assir, a
notorious cleric supporting Islamic
State or ISIS. Al-Assir was arrested
last Saturday at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri
International Airport, where he was
attempting to leave for Nigeria via
Cairo. He was in possession of a fake
Palestinian passport and a legitimate
Nigerian visa.
The anonymous Ministry of Foreign
Affairs official who told Vanguard of
the probe mentioned, “The reported
arrest of the wanted terrorist is a huge
embarrassment to Nigeria and the
president has directed that the matter
should be investigated.”
The official also said that Nigerian
embassies are supposed to keep track
of wanted persons in the country they
service. “We are amazed that such a
high profile terrorist would evade our
radar. This is a major breach that
cannot be allowed to go without
investigation.”
The official furthermore mentioned the
additional concern raised by the fact
that Boko Haram pledged allegiance to
ISIS in March of this year.
Al-Assir had been wanted since 2013
when his followers fought a two-day gun
battle with Lebanese soldiers, killing 18
of them. He was reportedly recruiting
members for ISIS to join the ongoing
fighing in Syria.
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